Alices’s Wicked Tea Party: Something Wicked This Way Comes

Down in deepest darkest Dorset something wicked is stirring. The last weekend in May sees the emergence of a brand new grassroots music festival, a festival dedicated to all things outside the mainstream of the bland and boring pop industry.

Curated by Wicked Spins Radio Alices Wicked Tea Party is unashamedly setting out to promote all things alternative. Those attending will be treated to two nights on a superb rural site, a top class line-up showcasing real music by real bands. If you are interested in Genre then Punk / Goth /Post punk / EBM / Industrial / Electronica / Alt Rock / Alt Metal / Indie / Garage/ Psych and Experimental artists all get a run out so as you can see there is something for everyone.

Well something for everyone except fans of One Direction or 5SOS perhaps!

The site may be rural but it is very accessible being just 10-minutes outside of Poole and sitting on the edge of Lytchett Matravers village which is just 5 minutes walk away. There are a good range of shops for essentials but the bar and food outlets are very reasonably priced so just come along and chill out with a weekend of great music and a great range of beers and ciders.

Check out this playlist from many of the bands playing over the weekend.

Alice’s Wicked Tea Party is one of a growing band of under the radar grass roots festivals that are springing up around the country. As someone who attends dozens of them I can tell you that they are relaxed and friendly affairs. The beauty of these gigs is that once you attend a couple you very quickly get to know others who are attending. With tickets limited to 500 you will recognise people, you won’t have to queue for half a lifetime for the toilet and nowhere on the site is more than 5 minutes walk away.

This all combines to create a beautifully laid back vibe and as there are no backstage areas where artists lock themselves away you will be able to have a chat with your favourites and hopefully you can even buy them a beer.

In recent years we have all seen the stories about the big festivals that have gone to the wall because they aimed too big. You might not be familiar with all of the artists on show, trust me it doesn’t matter. You will hear lots of bands that you will love. The intimate atmosphere and friendliness of these events adds to the vibe and you are sure to have a fantastic time.

A word on the site, there will be three stages situated just a few minutes walk from the camping area. The stages nestle at the bottom of a wooded hill and is beautifully shielded from any poor weather. The location also helps the sound which is nothing short of superb.

With 3 stages, two main stages that will run alternatively to each other so that no two acts clash with the other and a third satellite stage that will host performances from the Alice in Wasteland Theatre group during the day and band performances from the evening. You can even stand at the bar and see both stages. With this set up there is no delay or waiting around whilst the stage is reset for the next band.

With all of this on offer and a ticket price of just £40 including camping (£50 on the gate) what is stopping you. I think this could just be one of the highlights of this years festival season. Buy your tickets now and help to make a success of a brand new and very exciting Grass Roots festival.

About The Sound of Summer

Hi,
I am Alan. I live in Broadstone, Dorset with my wife, Shirley, my son, Ryan and two dogs called Bailey and Jasper. I have recently retired after working in the Armed Forces and in Public Service since 1977 so I now have a bit more time to do the things I love.
Music is a huge part of my life and always has been. I have a broad taste in music and can find something to enjoy in most styles of music. I have always been attracted to music which has something to say, is outside the mainstream and is perhaps a bit rebellious.
I guess my early influences were late 1970's Punk and new wave bands, especially those who came out of Northern Ireland where I grew up. I loved Stiff Little Fingers, The Undertones, Rudi, Starjets etc but also bands like The Ramones, The Clash, The Jam and so on.
I like singer songwriters including Van Morrison, Springsteen, Neil Young & Bob Dylan and in recent years I have become more interested in folk and acoustic music but I also love the sort of high drive energetic Folk/Punk music delivered by bands like The Levellers, Leatherat, Ferocious Dog and many others who frequent the UK Festival scene.
I have long since lost the desire to spend my holidays laying around in the sun and these days am much more likely to be found in a muddy field somewhere in the UK during the festival season.